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BB Island has announced that they have licensed the mCD "Losing something good for something better" from Norwegian act I Was A King for European release in late march. The record was produced by Emil Nikolaisen of Serena maneesh and when playing live, IWAK mainman Frode Stromstad is joined by members of Brooklyn-based act Great Lakes as well as Petter Folkedal aka Sgt. Petter. Listen to samples here: myspace.com/iwasaking" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/iwasaking
Upcoming live dates:
01/17 - Schokoladen, Berlin (GER)
01/18 - Kulturkollektiv Hirscheneck, Basel (CH)
01/20 - Prager Frühling, münchen (GER)
01/22 - Studenterhuset, Aarhus (DK)
01/23 - Cafe mono, Oslo (NOR)
01/24 - Head of Steam, Newcastle (UK)
01/25 - tba, Liverpool (UK)
01/26 - Water Rats, London (UK) w/Radio Dept.
2007 marks the 20th anniversary of legendary Swedish dark ambient/industrial/noise label Cold meat Industry and they're celebrating by launching two new offshoots, the first being a DVD imprint entitled Cold meat Visions. The first release will be a collection of short films from martin Bladh (IRm/Skin Area) this coming spring. As for the second new imprint, nothing's been revealed yet, but it will be announced soon.
In other CmI news, the label has signed Pimentola, their first Finnish artist. Listen to samples here: myspace.com/coldmeatindustry" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/coldmeatindustry
Gustav and the Seasick Sailors will be spending approximately two months touring the US starting on February 8 and here's what they've got confirmed so far:
02/08 - Castaways, Ithaca, NY
02/21 - Flavour Café, Troy, NY
02/23 - Coffee and Tea Room, Williamsport, PA
03/03 - Jitters Club, Southington, CT
03/18 - The Bitter End, New York, NY
03/23 - Potters House, Washington DC
03/29 - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
03/30 - Songwriter's Showcase, Fredriksburg, VA
04/01 - Baja Bean, Staunton, VA
04/06 - Folks Café, Wilmington, NC
04/07 - Port City Javam, Wilmington, NC
As you may have already noticed, Vapnet will be heading to the UK next week to play myspace.com/tacktacktack" target=_blank>Tack!Tack!Tack!. Well, they've also added a few extra dates to the journey:
01/22 - The Social, London w/Cat5 (myspace.com/tacktacktack" target=_blank>Tack!Tack!Tack!)
01/23 - The Cellar, Oxford w/Borderville, Jack Harris
01/24 - Nice n' Sleazy, Glasgow (myspace.com/soundsofsweden" target=_blank>Sounds of Sweden)
8
I was slated to review this CD a while back, but couldn't quite get a handle on it. It's really good, but it seemed shrouded in fog upon first listen - one of those platters that wouldn't reveal its aesthetic very easily until I recently I played it again on a bleak, overcast day following yet another midwest ice storm. The Stockhom-based Holiday for Strings sculpt a unique brand of rock that blends fractured guitar tracks, insistent percussion and coolly evocative electronics. The album is mostly instrumental, but the short vocal passages that are present are delivered in a sort of laconic, hazy style that de-emphasizes any sort of tangible theme. It's a fresh, sometimes sparkling, sometimes abrasive soundscape, not easily compared to anything else. The music seems very much adrift and doesn't head towards any obvious destination, but it sure holds your attention, though, and the concluding track "Jump on foot" is particularly captivating.
- Kevin Renick
8
madrugada frontman Sivert Høyem closes this second solo album by singing: "I must take to the stage/I need nerves of steel/no matter how weak and how weightless I feel/I just wanted to come across strong." It's an ironic and telling line on an album written just after the biggest year of madrugada's career. While the songs all deal with vulnerability to varying degrees - estranged narrators desperate for human contact, numbed to that contact, or savoring intimate moments of closeness - the sound betrays no hint of weakness and is anything but weightless. To the contrary, it's heavy, strong, and once you accept its borderline-corny sense of drama, downright beautiful. Høyem is gifted with what's likely the best voice in contemporary rock, and every note on here is sung deliberately and milked for maximum nuance. Fans expecting a repeat of his first solo record "Ladies and gentlemen of the opposition" will find this about as similar to that as madrugada's "The deep end" was to "Grit" - it sounds very little like its predecessor. Where his first mixed folk with rock and blues for an eclectic set of songs, this is one consistent slow dark march in a minor key. You've got to be in the mood, but when you are, it's breathtaking. Let's hope it sees wider distribution than its current Norway-only release.
- Nancy Baym
5
"Between two worlds" picks up, in some way, where Immortal left off. In times when noone knows if said band will record more records, this release from ex-frontman Abbath comes as a great relief. Sure, if you're looking for "true" black metal, this isn't really up your alley as what we're facing here is a dose of classic heavy- and thrash metal. Influences from bands such as motörhead, Bathory and WASP are very present and in a good way! It just goes to show that the classic metal acts are never to be ignored. However, despite these influences, you can still hear some Immortal-licks, especially in "mountains". And Abbath's vocals are still as evil as can be. But, and there is a "but" here, not all is jolly good with this release. There are songs that don't quite cut it for me such as the titletrack and the closer "Cursed we are". You gotta love bands that instantly makes you think of favorite bands such as, in this case, Judas Priest, but there are limits. I mean, why buy the new Trivium record when you can purchase "Killers"? Why buy this one when you can purchase "Screaming for vengeance"?
- Jonas Appelqvist
8
This is the fourth record from one of Sweden's best kept secrets. On their first two, singer-songwriter Jakob Nyström, if never quite gloomy, sounded like a seeker out of place in the world around him, a status that lent a certain mystical magic to his already poignant vocal delivery and the band's unusual folky/psychedelic/rock sound. 2005's "Cover the distance" found them alternating that sound with cheer, and on this, their most consistent record, they sound almost (dare I say it?) happy. While touching on many of the same themes - Jesus, secularism, connection and lack of connection to place and people - this time around it's poppy and even bouncy throughout. There are no jaw-droppingly magnificent tracks like "Hemisphere" (from 2001's "Inland traveller") and it's no artistic stretch, but it's Isolation Years all the way, which is to say it's a solid, tuneful, beautiful piece of jangly folky rock that sounds like no one else.
- Nancy Baym
8
First gig of 2007 and a very impressive start to the new year. The SubPop connection combined with great songs should hopefully propel Loney, Dear to great stardom shortly. I'm glad I got the chance to see him in such an intimate venue, I'm sure he'll soon be playing the big corporate ones (or so I hope). Singer Emil Svanänge's got a magnificent voice and, even though I felt a bit weird (after Christmas and cosiness, drunk people and noise aren't exactly what I crave) and annoyed with all the people behind me talking, it managed to entrance me. This happens very rarely unfortunately, the last time I remember it happening was when I saw Jason molina (aka Songs: Ohia) play the Luminaire in August last year. If 2007 will have more gigs like this in store, I'm starting to warm to the idea of rubbing shoulders with sweaty crowds in smelly and dirty venues all over again.
- Simon Tagestam
7
Need a heaping slab of proggy, psychedelic drone for your next imaginary mental excursion? Råd Kjetil and the Loving Eye of God are here to help. Once you relax and just go with the drone (in six fairly lengthy tracks), you find there's quite a few compelling sonic flourishes to enjoy. There's a long, foreboding intro, a looped toddler's voice that adds a mesmerizing element to one track, strange sound effects and dark, textured ambient layers that are way more than just background. You can hear real musicians at work here, making active decisions about the ebb and flow. If I'd had this album back in college, I can imagine there would've been lots of interest from fellow dormies in the deeply chilled psych-out pouring outta my room. And how can you not love a songtitle like "Dry air static sparks northern skies"?
- Kevin Renick
8
A lot of recordings get filed under the banner "dreampop," but the word is perfectly apt for this offering from mikko Singh. It's a soft, shimmering collection of ambience-laced tunes that showcase Singh's impossibly fragile, high-pitched voice. His singing suits these wintery, ethereal compositions, which often sound like they're dancing with the snowflakes Tomita told us about years ago. mikko has a good ear for melody and the blend of acoustic instrumentation and feathery electronica here is consistently pleasing, although it starts sounding a bit samey after awhile. There's also an innocent optimism at work throughout the disc, although the classic Nordic melancholy also pervades. It makes for an effective contrast. All in all, a most impressive debut.
- Kevin Renick
8
There's a new batch of swedish indierockbands out there. The scene is very much alive and kicking, much thanks to bands like Seven Feet Four, Division of Laura Lee, KVLR, Alarma man, Knife and Ape, LDOA and Logh. On this three track-EP, this Eskilstuna-based quintet deliver the kind of tunes that put them in the same league. I had often come to the conclusion that something was missing after hearing their previous recordings, but not anymore. This is well-played and tight indierock with hooks. Especially the title track that, if there's any justice in this world, should get more airtime and attention. It's about time these guys release another full-length.
- Jonas Appelqvist
The two musical genres I find myself listening to the most are generally considered to be two of the most reviled: country and metal. I'm sure some of that is due to my steadfast, contrarian nature, but I make no apologies. I am what I am. If having Slayer loaded on my mp3 player and Strayfolk in the car stereo seems at odds, that's too bad. Good music is good music.
I've been covering a few things from the heavier end of the spectrum recently, so let's switch sides and talk country. Strayfolk is the kind of band you are amazed to discover is from Scandinavia - they're the kind of band I expect to run into at the local dive, playing an extended set for a group of indifferent drunks. There's a touch of The Pogues in their sound, but their roots are most definitely in classic Americana. Let me put it this way: if you enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's recent Pete Seeger tribute, you'll love this. It's rough and tumble at times but, as you'll hear on today's mp3, also capable of being laidback and gentle. It's those latter qualities that appeal to me most as I find them to be the most elusive. Anyone can play tough and act like a drunk, but tapping into the other, softer side of country proves to be far more difficult and is harder to fake. You can hear it in the way the performers lay behind the beat, in the coo of the steel guitar. Very well done.
Listen to more tracks from the band's website: m/" target=_blank>www.strayfolk.com
Strayfolk - I thought I had it down
Isolation Years